Weighing scale



Marc-h 22, 1927.

H. CUMMER WEIGHING SCALE 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 30

March 22,1927.

H. CUMMER WEIGHING SCALE Filed Nov. 50, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 R www N MM@l m L U N u Q L C WN W w vwl l i IW. p M w, Q Y

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Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

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HARRY CUMMER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK; HARRY WALES CUMMER .AND JOHN W. VANALLEN, EXECU'TORS 0F SAID HARRY CMMER, DECEASED, ASSIGNORS TO THE CUMMERSCALE COMPANY, INC., A CORPGB'ATION OIE' NEW YORK.

WEGHING SCALE.

Application filed November .30, 1923.

This invention relates to improvements in weighing scales of' the typedisclosed in my prior United States Patents Nos. 1,076,486 of @ctober21, 1913, 1,185,634 of June 6, 1916 and 1,451,684 of April 17, 1923.Such type is essentially characterized by rocker beams in parallelplanes and by the provision on one or more of the beams of a series ofbearing points, the beams tilting Jfrom point to point and ultimatelycoming to rest on two adjacent bearing points of the series.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved indicatingmechanism which will be clearly and instantly readable.

A further object is to make simple and effective provision for two ormore cycles of operation whereby without increasing the size or weightof the scale its capacity will be at least doubled as compared with ascale of the same size and type as heretofore known.

lVith the first object in view the invention consists generally inmechanism for positively operating the movable element of an indicatorfrom the beams in such manner that said element will move to an equaleX- tent for each unit of weight value marked on the indicating chart,thereby to provide for an indicating chart whose graduations are equallyspaced.

Vith the second object in view the invention consists generally in theprovision of an adjustable part by which the operation of the scale maybe made to commence at some determined weight value next in degree abovethe maximum value of its minimum or initial weighing range whereby thescale may be operated through a weighing range of higher values. Toillustrate: The scale may have any desired initial range, say from oneto eight ounces, but it the parcel to be neighed is heavier than eightounces, the adjustable part may be manipulated whereby the operation ofthe scale will commence at eight ounces and will be effective through arange up to sixteen ounces. In other words an initial and at least onesubsequent cycle of operation may be provided for and if the parcelweighed is beyond the range of the initial cycle, the scale may be setfor operation through the subsequent cycle.

The invention also consists in various other details of structure andcombination Serial No. 677,670.

which will be set out at length as the description proceeds.

Two forms of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,the first being shown in Figures 1 to 4 and the second in .Figures 6 to10. In the first form provision for the subsequent cycle of operation isomitted.

'In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal secional view of a scale constructedto serve the first object above stated.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail view of an indicator visible from the top of thescale.

Figure l is a detail view of an indicator visible from the side of thescale.

Figure 5 is a view partly in vertical longitudinal section and partly inside elevation of a scale constructed to serve both of the object-sabove stated.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the same, partly in horizontal sectionlFigure 7 is a cross section on the line 7 7 of Figure 9.

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the same.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the same wherein adjustment has beenmade to provide for the subsequent cycle of operation.

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view on the line 10-10 of Figure 5.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4:

The operating parts are mounted on a suitable base 1 provided at itsfront end with supporting legs 2 and at its rear end with an adjustablesupporting le@F 3 by means of which the elevation of the base may beadjusted to insure accuracy. For the purpose of protection the mechanismis preferably enclosed in a suitable casing 4lwhich is open at its.front as at 5 and which includes a transparent side wall 6 and atransparent glass top 7.

AThe operating mechanism includes con nected rocker beams 8 and 9arranged in vertical parallel planes and having curved treads, the treadof the beam 9 being preferably provided with ball points 10i, as shownin my Patent No. 1,451,684 of April 17, 1923. The scale pan 11 isaccessible through the front opening 5 of the casing 3 and is suspendedfrom a cross bar 12 carried by forwardly extending arms 13 ot the rockerbeams, a suitable counter-balance 14 for the scale pan being mountedbetween the rear ends of the rocker beams. As shown in my Patent No.1,185,634 of June 67 1916, links or rods 15, operating through slots inthe base 1, are pivoted at their ends to the base and to the rockerbeams, and these links, without interference with the free rocking otthe beams, tie the beam tothe base so as to always retain it in properposition thereon and prevent the removal of the scale from the base. Therocker beams may also be provided at the front ends of their treadportions with laterally projecting guide rollers 17 which bear againstguide plates 18, preferably of glass. Means is preferably provided 'forlimiting` the movement of the rocker beams in either direction, suchmeans conveniently comprising a bar 19 having upper and lower lugs 20and 21 for engagement by the counter-weight 14 in either direction ot'movement of the rocker beams. rlhe bar 19 projects through an opening inthe base and is vertically yieldable, being maintained in equilibrium byopposed cushioning springs 22 and 23 arranged above and below the base.The bar 19 is suitably held against turning movement whereby its lugsand 21 will always lie in the path of the counterweight 14 or equivalentengaging part movable with the rocker beams, the means employedconveniently consisting of a projection 24' on said rod operating in aguide slot formed in a lug 25 secured to the base 1. i

The scale includes indicating means-which may serve also `as a priceindicator. The indicating means is 'shown in a Jform suitable for postalscales but may of course he selected tor any particular use for whichthe scale may be desired. The indicating means consists of aco-operating pointer and chart constituting companion relatively movableelements and either element may be movable, the other being stationary.As shown the pointer Ais movable and the chart is stationary. Thepointer is provided on an arm 26 mounted in a shaft 27 journalled in asupporting bracket 28. As a measure .of convenience two or more pointersand co-operating charts visible from different angles or elevations maybe provided. Thus the arm 26 has at its lower end a vertically disposedpointer 29 and at its upper end a vertically disposed pointer 30 and ahorizontally disposed ointer 31. The pointer 29 is movable throng `aslot in the base 1 and cri-operates with a chart 33 mounted below saidbase; the pointer 30 is in the form of a loop provided with a cross wireas `the indicating part and co-operates with a chart 34; and the pointer31 co-.operates with a chart 35. The charts 34 and 35 are convenientlymounted on the bracket 28. The charts 33 and 34 are visible when thescale is viewed at the side adjacent which said charts are located andare used according to the elevation at which the scale is supported. Thechart 35 is visible through the glass top 7 of the casing 4 and is usedwhen the scale is arranged below the level of the eyes. The charts aresimilarly constructed and as adapted for postal work are graduated inounces with indications adjacent each ounce reading of the correspondingamount of postage calculated at the rate per ounce according to theparticular class of postal matter being weighed.`

The arm 26 is operated from the rocker beams by mechanism oi' suchnature that the stages of movement `ot said arm corresponding to thestages of movement of the beams 9 from point to point `are ot equalextent, thereby to insure that the arm 26 will move to an equal extentfor each unit of weight value marked on the indicating chart and henceto permit ot the graduations of said chart being equally spaced. Suchequal spacing of the graduations ot the chart promotes fact-'lity andaccuracy in reading the same. The operating mechanism consists of an arm36 mounted on the shaft 27 and provided at its outer end with a cam slot37 in which engages a pin 38 mounted on the rocker beam 7, the shaft 27being also provided with a weighted arm 39 extending oppositely from thearm 36 and serving to counterbalance the same. As the rocker beam 7moves forward under the weight of the letter or parcelton the scale panthe pin 38 moves toward the inner end of the slot 37 and roc rs the .arm36., thereby rocking the shaft 27 and the arm 26. The slot 37 is of suchoutline that the stages of movement ot the arm 26. corresponding to thestages of movement of the beam 7 from point to point, will be 0i equalexten-t. Then the scale is at rAcro the pin 3S is located a shortdistance 'from the outer end ot the slot 37. thereby to provide aclearance in which said pin may play when lthe rocker beam` ou itsreturn movelill) ment, moves momentarily beyond its normal or initialZero position.

Referring to Figures to 10:

In this form the casing 2*l includes an upper chamber 2b and a lowerchamber 2. These chambers are separated by the base 1a which isremovably mounted and forms the top wall for the lower chamber; and theupper portion of the casing 2a by which the upper chamber 2b isdelimited is hinged as at 2d to a rearward extension of the base.The'hinged upper portion of the casing may thus be raised to give accessto the parts within the upper chamber 2b and may be held in raisedposition by alining supporting arms 2e pivoted to one another and to thebase and the hinged part ofthe casi-ng respectively.

The rocker beams 8a and 9a base 1'al in the manner above described, thebeam 9a being provided with the ball points 10'1. These beams are'formed as parts of a channel member 40 which is held to the base bylinks 15L corresponding functionally to the links 15 previouslydescribed. The rocker beams may also be guided in their morements byrollers 17 operating upon guide plates 18a mounted upon the hingedportion of the casing.

The invention includes means adjustable relatively to the rocher beams'for varying the weight required to produce a movement of said beams. Asshown and preferred an arm 41 is mounted longitudinally of the channelmember Lt() in a retaining clip 42 and projects forwardly and rearwardlyfrom said member. At its front end the arm Lt1 supports the scale pan11a and at its rear end said arm supports the counterweight 14a, thebase 1a having an opening 1b through which the counterweighted end ofthe arm 41 projects. The arm -ll is adjustably movable lengthwise ot thechannel member and in the embodiment shown two positions of said arm areprovided for, the arm being reta-ined in either position by theengagement of a spring dog mounted on the clip 32 in a notch 44 formedin said arm, two of said notches, one for each posit-ion ot said armbeing provided- 1n the first or forward position ot' the arm 41 thescale operates through an initial range ot' values and in the second orrearward position of said arm through a. subsequent range of values. InFigure 5 the arm is shown in full lines in its forward position and inFigure 9 it is similarly shown in its rearward position. i

The indicating means consists of a cooperating pointer 26 and chart 45.The chart has two tables of values, one for the initial range and whichmay be called the initial table and the other for the subsequent rangeand which may be called the subsequent table. In the forward position ofthe arm l1 the scale is operative only as to the initial range whereasin the rearward position it is operative as to the subsequent range. Inthe construction shown the pointer 26L returns to its initial positionat the beginning ot' the operation through the subsequent range. Hence,the iirst value of the subsequent table is placed adjacent the zero ofthe initial table. Thus it may be assumed that the initial table coverseight ounces, the readings being O to 8 and that the subsequent tablecovers eight ounces, the readings being 8 to 16; in such a case thenumeral 8 of the subsequent table may adjoin the zero of the initialtable and in like manner the numeral 9 of the subsequent table willadjoin the numeral 1 of the initial table and so on throughout theseries. As in the operate on the preceding constructions postal valuescalculated on the rate applicable to the letter or parcel being weighedmay be placed adjacent the weight values so as to obtain the advantageof automatic computation.

lt the weight of the letter or parel be less than eight. ounces thescale is operated with the arm et] in its forward position and thereading is taken from the initial table Y but it the letter or parcelweigh between eight and sixteen ounces the arm l1 is adj usted to itsrearward position and the reading is taken 'from the subsequent table.The adjustment of the arm el to its rearward position causes arepetition of the forward movement ot the rocker beams from the initialposition thereoi" corresponding to the zero ot' the initial scale, theextent of such repeated forward movement depending, of course, upon theweight of the letter or parcel on the scale pun. It will of course beapparent that the saale may have in its initial and subsequent rangesany desired capacity within practical limits and that more than onesubsequent range may be provided or if so desired, in which case acorresponding number o'i positions ot the arm 4.1 will be provided for.

The pointer 26a, as in the preceding enibodiment, is operated from therocher beams in such nia-nner that its stages ot movement, correspondingto the movements ot the beam 9a from point to point, are ot equalextent, thereby to permit an equal spacing' of the graduations of thechart Ll5 which, together with the end of the pointer, is exposed toview through a window or opening i-61 in the adjacent side wall of thechamber 2 in which the pointer is arranged. T he pointer 26n is mountedupon a. shaft Ta arranged in the chamber 2 and journalled' in a bracket28a. rlhe operation of the pointer is produced by an arm 36rl fittedupon the shaft 27 and projecting through a. slot in the base 2a abovewhich it is provided with an extension 37a of curved form to co-operateas a cam with a pin 38 projecting laterally from the beam 9, the eX-tension 37 resting upon the pin 38a and having its cam curvatureselected to provide for the described operation of the arm 26a.

In Figures 5 and 9 the upper portion of the casing is shown in itsraised position merely in order to expose to view the parts arranged inthe chamber 2h and said upper portion may be so raised whenever it maybe desired to gain access to the mechanism; but in ordinary use thescale is operated with its upper portion lowered to enclose the rockerbeams and their associated parts as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the arm 41in such case operating through a vertical slot 47 in the front wall ofthe upper portion of the casing.

It will be understood that the invention is not confined to precisestructural details of the forms shown but that modifications may beresorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Y

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

l. In a weighing scale of the type which includes a rockerV beam, anindicating means comprising as companion co-operating elements a pointerand a chart, one of said elements being movable and the other beingstationary, and cam means influencing the movement of the movableelement fromv the rocker beam whereby said element will move to an equalextent for each unit of weight value marked on said chart. j

2. In a weighing scale of the type which includes a rocker beam havingits thread provided with a series of bearing points, an indicating meanscomprising as companion cto-operating elements a pointer and a chart,one of said elements being movable and' the other being stationary, andcam means influencing the movement of the movable element from therocker beam whereby the stages of movement of said element,corresponding to the movements of the beam from point to point, areequal j 3. In a weighinfr scale of the type which includes a rockerbeam, an indicating means comprising as companion eo-operating elementsa pointer and a chart,y one of said elements being movable and the otherbeing stationary,v and means forV operating the movable element from theroel-rer beam comprising an arm operatively connected with said pointerand having a part formed as a cam and a projection on said beamcooperatingwith said cam whereby said element will move to an equalextent for each unit of weight value marked on said chart.

4f. In a weighing scale of the typey which includes a rocker beam havingits tread provided with a.V series of bearing points, an indicatingmeans comprising as companion (5o-operating elements a pointer and achart, one of said elements being movable and the other being'stationary, and means for operating the movable element from the rockerbeam comprising an arm operatively connected with said pointer andhaving a part formed as a cam and. a projection on said beamco'operating with said cam whereby the stages of movement of saidelement, corresponding to the movements of the beam from point toVpoint, are equal. K

5'. In a weighing scale of the type which includes a rocker beam, anindicating, means comprising as companion co-operating elements apointer and a chart, one of said elements being movable and the otherbeing stationary, a shaft on which the movable element is mounted., andmeans for operating the movable element from the rocker beam comprisingan arm mounted on said shaft and a projection on said rocker beamengaging said arm.

6. ln a weighing scale of the type which includes a rocker beam, anindicating means comprising as companion co-operating elements a pointerand a chart, one of said elements being movable yand the other beingstationary, a shaft on which the movable element is mounted, an armmounted on said. shaft and having an extension, anda projection on saidrocker beam `engaging said extension, the latter being formed as a camvwhereby said element will move to an equal extent for each unit ofweight value marked on said chart. v

7 In a weighing scale of the type which includes a rocker beam, meansadjustable relatively to said beam for varying the weight required toproduce a movement of said beam, a chart having at least two tables of4weight values of different range, said tables being. severally V,usedaccording to the adjustment of said means, anda pointer operated. by themovement of said beam `and co-operating with said chart in anyadjustment of said means. y y

8. In a weighing scale of the type which includes a rocker beam, an armmounted for adjustment lengthwise of said beam and having at least twopositions, a scale pan supported at the frontend of said arm, acounterweight supported at the rear end of said arm, a chart having atleast two tables of Weight values of different range, said tables beingseverally used according to the adjustment of said means, and a pointeroperated by the movement of said beam and co-operating with said chartin either position of said arm.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.v

HARRY CUMMER.

